Madhulika Khandelwal “South Asian Americans in Queens, NYC” Presentation for Queens College Academic Senate February 11, 2021 Significance of South Asians for a Culturally Diverse Queens/US • A large ethnic group??? • Important lessons for Race, Ethnicity, Diaspora, Colonialism, and Diversity! • Students/Urban Communities and Public Higher Education South Asians Americans: About Names & Categories • The term “South Asian” – Populations from nations such as Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka. And also … …Afghanis, Indo Caribbeans (Guyana, Trinidad, Jamaica, et al) and other diasporic communities (Africa, Mauritius, Fiji, UK, Canada … ) • Asians and the 1980 U.S. Census: Story of “Asian Indians” South Asian Demographics in Queens/NYC/U.S. • South Asians are 2nd largest Asian American group in the U.S. – a close second to Chinese Americans and higher than Filipino Ams, Vietnamese Ams, Korean Ams, and Japanese Ams. • Of a total Asian American population of over 20 million, South Asians are over 4.5 million in the 2020 Census. • NYC is the largest urban concentration of South Asians nationwide, with Queens County housing more than 60 % of South Asian New Yorkers. South Asian population of Queens is equal/close second to the Chinese Ams. • South Asian concentrations in Queens neighborhoods like Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, Richmond Hill, Bellerose. • Suburbanization: Long Island as well as other adjoining counties such as Westchester and states like New Jersey have witnessed their rapid growth. Racial and Ethnic Formations • An Asian Group? --- historic racialization vs. biological Race • One Ethnic Group? --- nationalities and social class • One Culture? --- layers of diversity • Nation v Migration --- national boundaries and diasporic identities • The Model Minority: A Case Study South Asian Minorities: Learnings for Theory and Practice • Diverse, Post-colonial cultures and identities • History of Social Movements • South Asian community is spread out and often hard to organize • Potential for cross-racial and cross-ethnic collaborations •Thinking Out of the Box: South Asian Americans as Deficit or Asset?.